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Category Archives: chronic conditions
Caregiving and Alzheimer’s: Asking the Right Questions
A frustrated friend called me for help while visiting her mother. Her mother’s Alzheimer’s was progressing and she was exhibiting some, let’s say, wearisome behaviors (to my friend that is). It had been over a week and her mother refused … Continue reading
Posted in against all odds, aging, caregiving, chronic conditions, disabilities, eldercare, encouragement, health care, making a plan, sandwich generation, unintentional caregiving, working caregiver
Tagged against all odds, aging, alzheimers, caregiving, caregiving and stress, chronic conditions, disabilities, eldercare, encouragement, health care, Home Care, making a plan, sandwich generation, tips on eldercare, unintentional caregiving, working caregiver
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Caregiving and Alzheimer’s: Asking the Right Questions
A frustrated friend called me for help while visiting her mother. Her mother’s Alzheimer’s was progressing and she was exhibiting some, let’s say, wearisome behaviors (to my friend that is). It had been over a week and her mother refused … Continue reading
Posted in against all odds, aging, caregiving, chronic conditions, disabilities, eldercare, encouragement, health care, making a plan, sandwich generation, unintentional caregiving, working caregiver
Tagged against all odds, aging, alzheimers, caregiving, caregiving and stress, chronic conditions, disabilities, eldercare, encouragement, health care, Home Care, making a plan, sandwich generation, tips on eldercare, unintentional caregiving, working caregiver
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Advocate and Empower
My sister and I have become the dynamic duo of caregiving, with her brains (she is the smartest person I know) and my health care background our family members have come to rely on us when it comes to making … Continue reading
Strategies for Communicating with Multiple Doctors
Years ago I met a woman at a rehab facility while visiting a family member. She was recovering from a stroke and looking forward to getting back home. I acknowledged how well she was doing considering the circumstances. She said … Continue reading
Posted in boomers, caregiving, chronic conditions, eldercare
Tagged aging, caregiver, caregiving, doctors, eldercare, medical decisions, specialists
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Rejoice in the Small Victories
Anyone who has had a loved one with cancer understands how stressful the ongoing 3-6 month marks are, waiting to hear if the blood work and bone-scans are clear. When those we love have had ongoing health issues and it … Continue reading
The Word that Changed Our Lives – Cancer
“It’s Cancer”. My sister and I tried to compose ourselves and comprehend the significance of what we had just heard the doctor say. Did he just say that our mom has breast cancer? Having worked in hospice for many years, I … Continue reading
One Word Can Change Your Life – Cancer
“It’s Cancer”, my sister and I tried to compose ourselves and comprehend the significance of what we had just heard the doctor say. Did he just say that our mom has cancer? Having worked in hospice for many years, I knew … Continue reading
Recognizing the Signs of Caregiver Burnout
You try to hide the feeling of being overwhelmed, however; caregiver burnout is serious and can lead significant physical and mental health issues. It is critical to know the signs and take steps to take care of yourself. Here are … Continue reading
Celebrate Small Victories
Anyone who has had a loved one with cancer understands how stressful the ongoing 3-6 month marks are waiting to hear if the blood work and bone-scans were clear. When those we love have had ongoing health issues and it … Continue reading
The 11 L’s of Caring and Coping
A personal story from Dave Balch excerpted from his DVD,You Can Handle More Than You Think You Can. Balch is a coping strategies specialist, the founder of Coping University, and author of Cancer for Two. It was a Tuesday. My … Continue reading
Playing an Old Game in a New Way (In loving Memory of Ed Cutler)
I wrote this several years ago and thought it fitting to repost it in loving memory of my father-in-law Ed Cutler who passed away January 5th. Continue reading
Posted in against all odds, aging, caregiving, chronic conditions, disabilities, eldercare, encouragement
Tagged against all odds, aging, attitude, blind, bowling, caregiving, chronic conditions, disabilities, eldercare, encouragement, family, hearing loss, independence, It's fun to laugh, life lessons, support, vision impaired
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Guest Post: Recognizing Early Symptoms of Degenerative Eye Diseases
As we age our eyes tend to become less efficient and more prone to degenerative diseases. One in 6 adults over the age of 45 will experience some sort sight-threatening problem, the three most common degenerative eye diseases being Glaucoma, … Continue reading
Posted in aging, caregiving, chronic conditions, eldercare, elders, health care
Tagged aging, caregiving, chronic conditions, eldercare, elders, eye disease, eye exam, eye health, health care, macular degeneration
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Aging and Hearing Loss – Guest Post by Gary Hill
Age related hearing loss is a natural and gradual demise in hearing ability that affects individuals from as early as in their mid 40s, but far more common in the over 65s. If you care for an elderly person, it … Continue reading
Posted in caregiving, chronic conditions, disabilities, elders
Tagged aging, caregiving, chronic conditions, deaf, disabilities, elderly, elders, hard of hearing, hearing aid, hearing loss
2 Comments
Surrender to Lower Your Stress – By Dave Balch
The life of a caregiver can be pretty stressful. (That sentence is a candidate for the Nobel Prize of understatement.) Everyone’s story is different, but the resulting stress is pretty much the same. I hope that my story will resonate with … Continue reading
CaregiverLife Radio – Managing Stress
Click here to join me today for CaregiverLife Radio from 10-11am (CST) Topic: Stress Management Guest: Dave Balch Dave Balch has a unique, inspiring, and loving story to share, coupled with the experience, desire, and ability to share it. Dave Balch supported … Continue reading
Posted in aging, boomers, caregiving, chronic conditions, eldercare, health care, work/life/flex, working caregiver
Tagged aging, boomers, cancer, caregiving, caregiving and stress, chronic conditions, eldercare, health care, healthcare, Stress management, Stress of Caregiving, work/life/flex, working caregiver
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CaregiverLife Radio – Music Therapy
Join me today from 10-11am (CST) for CaregiverLife Radio My guest: MARY ELLEN HEELAN Mary Ellen Heelan, a native of Downers Grove,Illinois has had an eclectic career, starting out as a Social Studies teacher in Oklahoma and Virginia; then moving into … Continue reading
Creative Communication
A friend of mine shared his communication challenges with his wife who has undergone several surgeries, rounds of chemo and radiation for brain tumors. Since the treatments she has been suffering from aphasia, causing her trouble finding words, as well … Continue reading
Posted in aging, chronic conditions, eldercare, elders, encouragement, sandwich generation, work/life/flex, working caregiver
Tagged aging, aphasia, caregiving and stress, chronic conditions, communication, eldercare, elders, encouragement, family tools, sandwich generation, speech, stroke, work/life/flex, working caregiver
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Guest Post: Caregiving for Senior Mesothelioma Patients
The words seem to come out of nowhere. “I have mesothelioma.” When those three words sputter across your loved one’s lips, life changes in ways you don’t know how to imagine. A mesothelioma diagnosis is often terminal. Some patients try … Continue reading
Posted in caregiving, chronic conditions, encouragement, health care, hospice and end of life care, work/life/flex, working caregiver
Tagged asbestos, cancer, caregiver, caregiving, caregiving and stress, chronic conditions, encouragement, family, health care, healthcare, hospice and end of life care, In Home Caregiving, lung, mesothelioma, support, work/life/flex, working caregiver
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Guest Post: BECOME A PARTNER WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN
When I worked in hospitals, I noticed many patients had trouble becoming an active participant in their healthcare, for various reasons. To address this concern, I spoke to Dr. Nancy Snyderman, Chief Medical Editor of NBC News and my colleague … Continue reading
Book Review: Alzheimer’s from the Inside Out
There have been many books published on the topic of Alzheimer’s disease. Some address symptoms, diagnosis, behavior issues from the clinical, psychological and social perspective. However; this is the first work to address the disease from the perspective of the … Continue reading
Posted in caregiving, chronic conditions, encouragement, sandwich generation, work/life/flex, working caregiver
Tagged alzheimer's, alzheimers, book review, caregiving, chronic conditions, dementia, encouragement, Richard Taylor, sandwich generation, work/life/flex, working caregiver
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